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(No Model sNAPH'ooK.

No. 582,780. Patented May 18, l1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REUBEN C. ELDRIDGE, OF NIAGARA, CANADA.

SNAP-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 582,780, dated May 18,1897.

Application filed January 15, 1897. Serial Nol 619,277. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, REUBEN C. ELDRIDGE, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain, residing at Niagara Falls, in the county of Welland, in theProvince of Ontario, Canada, have invented new and useful Ilnprovementsin Snap-Hooks, of which the following is a specification. Y

This invention relates to snap-hooks which are provided with a pair ofhooks arranged at opposite ends of the body.

The object of my invention is the production of such a double snap-hookWhich is comparatively short and sightly in appearance and which permitsthe use of a single spring or tongue for both hooks, thus providing aspring of sufficient length to render it resilient and durable.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of myimproved snap-hook. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 isan edge vieW of the hook.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

The snap-hook is substantially S-shaped, and comprises a body or shank Aand a pair of hooks B B, arranged at opposite ends of the body andfacing in opposite directions. The body or shank and the two hooks arecast or otherwise formed in one piece, and the body forms a common shankfor both hooks and is arranged obliquely to the longitudinal center lineof the hook.

C C represent spring-tongues which respectively bear at their free endsagainst the noses of the snap-hooks, so as to close the mouths thereofin a Well-known manner, and which are connected by an intermediate member C2. These spring-tongues and the connecting member are preferablybent from a single piece, and form together a substantially S-shapedspring, as shown in the drawings. The central member C2 of this springand its bends c are seated in a longitudinal slot or recess d, formed inthe shank in the same plane as the hooks B.

e e represent transverse pins or rivets which are arranged in orintersect the slot CZ of the body near the ends thereof and around whichthe bends c of the S-shaped spring extenchso that said bends are looselyconned between the pins or rivets and the ends of said slot. These pinsor rivets form abutments against which the tongues C C' of the springare strained in depressing the same and around which the bends of thespring are free to slide to a certain extent. The straining ordeflection of either tongue is thus transmitted to the intermediatespring member C2, and the resilience of the spring is thereby not onlyincreased, but the spring is rendered more durable. The S-shaped form,while providing a spring of sufficient length to insure the desiredelasticity and durability, occupiesv at the same time a comparativelysmall space, as the tongue of one hook lies against the back of theother, thus permitting the snaphook to be made correspondingly shorterand lighter.

My improved snap-hook is especially desirable asa bit-snap, but may alsobe used for the various other purposes of ordinary snap-hooks.

I claim as my invention 1. A double snap-hook, comprising abody orshank, two oppositely-facing hooks arranged at opposite ends of saidbody or shank, and a single continuous spring composed of two outerbranches or tongues bearing respectively against the noses of said hooksand an intermediate member connecting said branches or tongues,substantially as set forth.

2. An S-shaped snap-hook comprising a body or shank having alongitudinal slot or recess, two oppositely-facing hooks arranged atopposite ends of said body or shank, transverse pins or rivets arrangedin said slot near opposite ends thereof and a continuous S- shapedspring seated in said slot and extending with its bends around said pinsor rivets and bearing with its outer branches or tongues against thenoses of said hooks, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 19th day of November, 1896.

REUBEN C. ELDRIDGE. Witnesses:

Lois ELDRIDGE, KATIE I-loUsE.

